Formation of Rydberg atoms in an expanding ultracold neutral plasma

Authors
Killian, TC Lim, MJ Kulin, S Dumke, R Bergeson, SD Rolston, SL
Citation
Tc. Killian et al., Formation of Rydberg atoms in an expanding ultracold neutral plasma, PHYS REV L, 86(17), 2001, pp. 3759-3762
Citations number
27
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
Journal title
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
ISSN journal
00319007 → ACNP
Volume
86
Issue
17
Year of publication
2001
Pages
3759 - 3762
Database
ISI
SICI code
0031-9007(20010423)86:17<3759:FORAIA>2.0.ZU;2-7
Abstract
We study the formation of Rydberg atoms in expanding plasmas at temperature s of 1-1000 K and densities from 10(5)-10(10) cm(-3). Up to 20% of the init ially free charges recombine in about 100 mus, and the binding energy of th e Rydberg atoms approximately equals the increase in the kinetic enemy of t he remaining free electrons. Three-body recombination is expected to domina te in this regime, yet most of our results are inconsistent with this mecha nism.